Lynch at Large

It is astounding that Southwest, after so much bluster, would cave in to a proposal which imposes 8 or 9 years of Wright Amendment restrictions at Dallas Love Field. The mayor of Dallas says the final announcement will be delayed till Thursday. The Dallas Morning News has the story.

Some highlights.

The current terms of the agreement would allow immediate through-ticketing, letting Love Field passengers fly anywhere in the U.S. if they first stop in a state within the Wright perimeter. And it would cap the number of gates at Love Field at 20, limiting Southwest to 16 gates, American to two gates, and Continental Airlines to two gates, a Dallas official said.

The airport's remaining 12 gates would be permanently closed or demolished

Yes, DEMOLISHED. OK, it's the railroad guy in me, but once infrastructure is destroyed, it is gone forever. Are these Texas dimwits saying that the need for airport capacity will decline in the coming years?

The recent activity over Wright may have scuttled a deal for the former Legend terminal between Love Field Partners and Pinnacle Airlines Corp., the regional partner of Northwest Airlines Inc. Pinnacle flies regional jets that would fall inside of the 56-seat limit and would not be restricted by the Wright amendment.

Bill Brewer, an attorney with Bickel & Brewer who represents Love Field Partners, said his clients were "no more than weeks" from signing a letter of intent for a $100 million deal for the property.

Amazing. Incredible. The public be damned.